Little Falls transcript., 1887-08-26

her q sponge path with the water at
20 degrees, ,-uncovering only q small
portion of the surface at time, rub
bing briskly with towels, then with the
open palm until 1 brought q healthy
glow to the dry feverish skin. After
dressing her in fresh clothing, turning
the mattress over and making the bed
with clean linen, she was carried back
and comfortable for the night.
The change to the other room and
the bath had caused healthy WEAKNESS
which made the chamber and fresh
clothing vers agreeable to her. s
Now here is your sleeping portion s
l said us | gave her a cup Of warm
Cruel. Drink it all, then trot away
to Sunderland ~:.,e. !.
\ Tie next morning I found her bright
and cheerful.
20 I had such sweet sleep?'' she
said with animation. Il have not been
so refreshed for months. l have had
to take bromide and choral every night
in order to sleep at all. What did you
put in the gruel?''
| ''Only little common sense, my
dear. An animal will never sleep on
an empty stomach, you know; and in
your case the process of digestion
drew the blood from your oyercharged
brain and induced sleep. Now drink
this handing her 4 cup of water,
comfortably hot, with slice of lemon
in it. 1T will warm your stomach
ready for your breakfast"
! After drinking it she sat up in bed,
bathed face and hands and arranged
her hair.
| ''See," she said after she had finish
ed, Il havn't done that for myself for
four months.''
I had prepared her breakfast myself
"a poached egg. a dish of thoroughly
cooked oatmeal, and y plate of delicious
grapes.
Her eyes frightened. II believe !
am hungry" she said, land I cannot
remember the time have been so be-
FORE But is it safe for such a weak
stomach as mine to take those
grapes %
Just try it and see; l will answer for
consequences; only be sure and do not
swallow the seeds
| l engaged her in merry conversation
as she ate, and if laughter helps diges-
ton and increases appetite, it might
account for Mary's calling for the sec
plate of oatmeal, to Aunt Martha's
astonishment. 'She hasn't eaten SC
much at one time in year,
she said with surprise aud pleasure.
Mary had not observed the absence
of tea with her breakfast until the meal
was ended, then she turned to me in
quiringly.
"Do you feel thirsty?" 1 asked.
mot in the least. The grapes were
food aud drink
Then do not drink any tea now. ]
think it increases your headache and
sleeplessness, and certainly your nerves
need no stimulant. would prefer, il
you can do without it, that you take
no drink of any kind with your meals.
You will chew your food more thor
oughly. and it will digest better. l will
bring you a glass of warm milk and
water in an hour
After had given this to her chang.
ed her night clothing for that worn the
day before, which had been summing
in the back yard since early morning.
Then wrapping her again in blanket.
she was carried to sofa on the back
veranda, where with her head alone
in shade, the rest of the body received
the full benefit of the sunshine.
At first the strong light was painful
to the weak eyes accustomed only to
darkened room, so put over them
green silk shade screening them from
the glare. She lay for a long time
silently drinking in the pure, fresh air
and watching the distant landscape
| from hanaath bor shade
"Oh Jennie! it's like heaven she
said at last. "How blind and foolish /
have BEEN"
1--WE will not mourn over the past
now-but be thankful your eyes were
opened before it was too late"
After an hours thorough summing
she was carried back to her bed. which
had been aired ard the linen changed
for that used the day before, which like
the clothing, had been summing for
hours.
As I expected. Mary was asleep and
never awakened until dinner time.
1 Then she was ready for hearty
meal of roast beef with few of the
grapes for a relish.
Before my two weeks visit ended
she was able to sit up for an hour or
two at time and to walk to her
favorite resting-place in the hammock,
which had substituted for the sofa.
The greater part of every pleasant
day was spent between the hammock
and an easy chair on the veranda.
When left it was with the promise
that Mary was to return my visit in six
weeks, which promise was punctually
kept. She bore the hundred-mile
journey with no undue fatigue, and I
could scarcely recognize in the bright,
healthful face and plump form. the
emaciated, helpless, hopeless invalid
whom l had found in the darkened
room two months before. Yet it was
no miracle, but simply common sense
had restored her to health. and, better
still, taught her how to keep it-La-
dies Home Journal.